Adjustable lawn sprinkler head



Jan- 22, 1957 A. M. GOULD ET AL 2,778,677

ADJUSTABLE LAWN SPRINKLER HEAD Filed March 5, 1955 lNVENTORj ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,178,617 ADJUSTABLE LAWN SPRINKLER HEAD Alma M. Gould and Harvey A. Gould, Burbank, Calif. Application March 3, 1955, Serial No. 491,826 6 claims. (C1. a99-1s) This invention relates to a sprinker nozzle and more particularly pertains to the nozzle head portion of the sprinker employed in permanently installed lawn sprinkling systems.

An object of the invention is to provide a sprinkler nozzle head of the labove character of the type which is especially designed to deliver a fan-shaped or semi-circular spray of water which type is more generally used in sprinklers installed adjacent the margins of sidewalks, curbs, and the like so as to sprinkle the lawn area bordering the walk or curb with minimum sprinkling of the walk or curb; the particular purpose of the invention being to equip such lawn sprinkling nozzle heads with adjustable means for varying the spread of the fan-shaped spray discharged from the nozzle whereby the lawn area watered by a particular sprinkler may be varied `primarily to minimize waste of water.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spray adjusting or regulating device which is applicable to the conventional type of sprinkler nozzle head with but little alteration in the construction thereof.

A further object is to equip the spray nozzle head with a spray regulating slide plate and to provide -a simple and effective means of mounting and guiding the slide plate on the nozzle head and in a manner to permit ready adjustment of the slide plate relative to the nozzle orifice and embodying a construction whereby the slide plate will be automatically held against displacement in any of its adjusted positions.

With the foregoing objects in view together withsuch other objects and advantages as may ysubsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed and as illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the sprinkler nozzle head showing the spray regulating slide plate applied;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l and indicating in dotted lines the manner of adjusting the spray regulating slide plate;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the nozzle head with the slide plate removed;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the slide plate showing it detached;

Fig. 5 is a detail in section and elevation taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2 as seen in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a diagram in plan depicting the application of the invention;

Figs. 7 and 8 are diagrams in section showing comparative throws of streams from a nozzle aiorded by adjustment of the regulating slide plate; and

Fig. 9 is a detail in section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2 showing the manner in which the side margins of the slide plate are frictionally engaged with the nozzle head to hold the slide plate against displacement in its adjusted positions.

'l Referring to the drawings more specifically A indicates j Patented Jan. 22, 1957 ICC generally the nozzle head of a sprinkler which head is adapted to be screwed into a tubular sprinkler coupling B connected to a suitable source of water supply under pressure; the plug being formed with the usual external threads C, a hexagonal flange D, a at top surface E, a semi-circular dshed recess F leading inwardly from a marginal portion of the flange D and having a vertical back wall G, and into the bottom of which recess F leads the nozzle orifice H adjacent said back wall. The top surface E extends on a plane spaced above ange D.

In carrying out the present invention the vertical wall D is continued on a vertical plane above the plane of the margin of the recess F andl intersects the surface E perpendicular thereto. The Vertical face of the wall G is flat throughout and extends transversely of the plug A contiguous the rear margin of the upper end of the nozzle oriiice H.

The essence of the invention resides in equipping the nozzle head A with a spray regulating slide plate 7 and providing an adjustable mounting therefor. The plate 7 slidably seats on the surface E and is formed with an `arcuate forward end portion which is designed to be projected a selected extent from the wall G to overlie the nozzle orifice H and the recess F in spaced relation thereto as shown in Fig. 2.

As a means of slidably mounting and guiding the plate 7, a diametrically extending slot 9 is formed in the upper face of the nozzle head which leads to an enlarged bore 10 extending inwardly from the margin of the flange D as particularly shown in Fig. 3, and the slide plate 7 is formed with a downturned stem l1 which projects through the slot 9 and is formed with an end enlargement 12 which projects into and slidably fits the bore 10.

As a further means of mounting and guiding the slide plate in a seated position on the top surface E of the nozzle head, the opposed side margins of the slide plate are formed with downwardly extending parallel lianges 14-14 having inturned tongues 15-15 which are slidably and frictionally engaged in grooves 16-16 formed in the opposite sides of the sprinkler head adjacent the surface E and paralleling the latter. The flanges 14-14 in extending astride the sprinkler head-in close proximity thereto serve to hold the slide plate against lateral displacement, and the tongues 15-15 in snugly tting the grooves 16-16 serve to hold the slide plate against upward tilting under-the impact of the stream of water discharging through the nozzle oriiice H against the underside of the forward projecting portion of the slide plate.

By the recited construction the slide plate 7 may be shifted diametrically of the nozzle head A perpendicular to the wall G so as to vary the extent of projection of the arcuate forward end portion 8 of the plate 7; the enlargement 12 on the stem 11 in engaging the walls of the bore 10 and the tongues 15-15 frictionally engaging the grooves 16-16 serving to hold the slide plate 7 in place in any of its adjusted positions.

In the operation of the invention the overhanging end portion of the slide plate 7 serves to deect the stream of water delivered upwardlyV through the nozzle oriice H and to direct a fan-shaped spray from one side of the nozzle head, the spread of which may be varied according to requirements by adjustment of the slide plate 7. Manifestly the less the overhang of the forward portion 8 of the slide plate 7 beyond the wall G and nozzle orifice H, the higher and shorter will be the trajectory of the spray and conversely the greater the extent of such overhang of the slide plate the lower and longer will be the trajectory.

It is contemplated that once the slide plate is adjusted to produce the desired trajectory of the spray no further ladjustment will be required, but manifestly in event it maybecorne necessary or desirable -to change its Iposition it is only necessary to shove the slide plate forward or back within the range of its movement to whatever position will fg'ive the wanted result.

-While a 2specific "embodimentofthe" invention has been shown and described,-it isv not limited to 'the exact construction set forth, but embraces such changes and vlrhodications as come within the meaning'- and scope of the appended claims.

We claim: p

1. In a sprinkler nozzle head havingaange formed with a ilat upper face formed with a -se`rnicirculardished recess having an Aupstanding hack wall 'eXtending above said face, said'head having an `upper"flatfs'urface'leading from said backjwll on a plane aboveithellat upper face of said'iiange, said `head being formdwvith'an upwardly opening water discharge -oriicef leading through "the hottom of said recess, ya 'slide vplate having a flat face'seated on said surfaceand having'an outwardly curved .arcuate forward marginal portion protruding over said recess from the upper edge lof said back'walh'a cylindrical bore leading into said nozzle heady from'a yside therefysaid upper surface being formed with an openended channel opening downwardly Vto said bore,land"'ineans onsaid slide plate frictionally' engaging said bore adapted to hold said slide plate in various ladjusted positions relativeto` said back wall.

2. The structure called for *invclaim l in whichsaid guideway engaging means embodies a stem yon said slide plate extending through said channel, and an enlargement on said stem arranged in said bore in sliding contact with the nozzle head.

3. In a sprinkler nozzle head havinga ange formed with a atupper face formed asemi-cir'cul'ar dishd recess having 'an upstanding back wall extendingabove said face, 'said head having an upper at'surface leading from said back wall on a plane above the flat upper face of said ange, and said nozzle'head being formed withran upwardly opening water discharge orifice leading through the bottom Iof Asaid recess, a slide plate having a flat face' seated on said surface and having an outwardly curved arcuate forward marginal portion protruding over said recess fromfthe upper edge of'saidback-wall, parallel grooves on opposite sides of said nozzle head, tongues on opposed Vmargins of said `slide plate engaging -said grooves7 a cylindrical bore leading into said nozzle-head from a side thereof vand an open ended channel in said upper surface opening ydownwardlyto said lbore, rand means on said slide plate engaging -said bore adapted to hold said yslide plate invariousadjusted positions'- rela-V tive to said -back wall.

n"4.-"Irrfa'-sp-1inkler nozzle head 'having' an upper'flatV surface and formed with a flange having semi-circular recess having an upstanding back wall and said nozzle head being formed with an upwardly opening water discharge orice leading through the bottom of said recess, a slide plate having a flat face seated on said surface and having a forward marginal portion protruding over said recess from the upper edge of said back wall, said nozzle head being :forin'ed v'vith"'parallel grooves on opposite sides thereof,` side zflanges on said slide plate overlying said opposite sides of said head holding said platewagainst lateral''rnovement on' said head,Y tongues onv said' 1flanges projecting into said. grooves holding vsaid plate against upward movement relative to said head, a cylindrical bore leading into said nozzle head from a side thereof and an open ended channel in said upper surface opening downwardly to' said bore, a stem on said slide plate extending through said channel, and an enlargement 'on saids'tem' arranged in said horein sliding contact with the nozzle head. Y

5. ln a sprinkler nozzle, a head formed witha flange havin'gan 'upper' flat surface formed with a semi-circular dish'drece'ss having'pan upstanding 'flat back wall continudv o'nwa verticall plane above the plane of the mari lrsaid' recess, said head having aat 'top surface ing"onf"`a*pla1`1`e' spaced 'above said ange, said back ntersecting said topsurfa'ce perpendicular thereto,

` said head llrieing'formed with anupwardly openingwater discharge 'orice leading through the bottom of said' 'recess 'djacentsaid backwallga slide plate slidably seated onsaid'topsurfaceformed with an outwardly curved arcuate forwardfrendportion adapted to be projected/a selectedextent forward; 'oft said Vvertical wall to overli'e said nozzle orificeA and jthe dishedrecess inl spaced relationthereto', jaidmean's forguiding v.said slide plateon said head' and'for holding itagainst tilting relative 'thereto.

v6. The structure calledfonin `claim 5 togetherfwith means'jxed` on 4s'faid slide plate slidably and frictionally engageablewith "sai )head for holding said slide plate in variousadjusted'positions lthereon relative lto said back wall.

eferences Cited lin the le of this patent UNITED -srATEs PATENTS Re.\1 336 Bowers yFebf, 41912 911,716 Gibbsl Feb. v9, 1909 2,566,781 TetZlff Sept. 4, 1951 

